one-upped by technology

After what seems like a long time without a post, without a personal post, without pictures of my beautiful children and their wonderful experiences, and when I finally feel like posting parts of life i don't want to forget, technology comes in and gives me a swift kick in the butt.

I've always put my pictures on my computer by taking out the memory card, and putting it in the slot on the computer. Today, when i do that, nothing happens. Happened yesterday too. I know that i should have installed the junk that came with my computer, and plugged in the cord long ago... but I didn't. And now the cord seems to be the one thing that is missing out of my computer box (the receipt, the software, the instruction manuals are all there, but that cord...)

Sigh.

I would ask my more-technologically-minded-than-me husband to help, but he's in in bed with a 102 fever this morning, complaining of a sore throat. Another sigh. Is it possible he got Owen's strep throat from 2 weeks ago? My children are playing so quietly, so intently, so thoughtfully in Owen's room. I hear little hands pawing through a Lego box, looking for the perfect piece, and a little voice asking big brother for help. It is the perfect time for me to steal a moment of computer time... a third sigh.

In the absence of pictures, a quick rundown:

*we have finished another season of soccer -- it was great. And cold. I'm thankful to have my Saturday mornings back.
*we have been learning with leaps and bounds lately -- it has once again hit me that my little ones are growing up faster than I had noticed.
*i have been slowly weaning myself from my political addiction. I must remind myself every time I turn on the cable news shows... he got elected, we're going to be okay, Fox news can't hurt us now...
*now that the elections are over, personnel has been changed, and the newness of other modifications are wearing off, work is evening out, and once again becoming routine and comfortable.
*Lauryn and I have been spending many hours at the YMCA. I enjoy the exercise while listening to NPR, she loves an hour to play with new friends, color in a new coloring book and climb through their really cool indoor jungle gym.
*I am incredibly anxious for the holidays. I will actually be afforded some time off work, and get to see most of my family in that time. Soon, I will bake an obscene amount of cinnamon rolls, and begin getting out the Christmas decorations. Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year.

More later. Eventually. I'm sure I'll figure out this picture problem. E V E N T U A L L Y.

349

I have much more to say about this election.

But while I work off the headache/political hangover from my 13-hour night at work, I must at least say this:

349

At least.

The numbers may sway a bit, but this is no close race.

This is history on so many levels. I'm exhausted, relieved and enthused.

Is it too early to start chanting "four more years!" ??

Your chance

You all know who I support in the election. This isn't another campaign blog. Instead this is just a reminder: a reminder of what today is.

Consider a few facts (and I hope I have them all correct, I know a history teacher is reading this):
~88 Years ago, women did NOT have the right to vote.
~Although African American men have had the right to vote since 1870, as recent as 1964, those trying to register black voters were intimidated and kept away from the polls. Many never attempted it before 1964.
~Even today, there are a lot of Americans who cannot legally vote because of a felony conviction, even for something as small as a minor drug possession conviction.
~In the last Presidential election (2004) 55% of eligible voters cast a vote.
~In the last Mid-term election (2006) 41% of eligible voters cast a vote.

And consider this (you may have heard it before): My grandmothers were not born with the right to vote. When my parents began voting, segregation was still alive and well in this country. And now, I have the opportunity to vote for a ticket with an African American man or a woman in the top 2 spots. Someday that won't be a big deal. But today it is. I know one day, my grandkids will look up at me with confused faces and say "What do you mean we never had a woman/black/Latino/gay/Asian/Muslim/Jewish etc. president? That's just weird." Yes, one day it will be. I hope and I pray. But today it is not. Today is a historic election. Don't tell your future (or current) grandkids you didn't take part. Go out. Be there. Vote.

Not sure where to vote? Go to this link, click on your state, and it will take you to your local election office that will have everything you need to know.

(And if I'm preaching to the choir here, pass on the facts above to someone, anyone, who might need a little bit of motivation to brave the lines today.)

Yea Democracy! Let's not waste it.

I voted

I'm done. I did it. I voted. (A week ago).
We had a beautiful October day that felt like late August. We had the setting of a serene park

for an exhilarating rally.

Owen received many compliments on his sign (that he made for the caucus on Super Tuesday.)

We got to meet the Governor.

Lauryn loved the music and the excitement of the rally.


Afterwards we took a break to play at the park.

Then to the courthouse, to cast our ballots.

I'm done. I did it. I cast my ballot. For the president, the senator, the congressman, the local school bond issue, the D.A. and the Sheriff -- they're all important.

I've gushed about Obama before. I've ranted about the opposition. I'm not going to today. I just feel grateful for the right to vote for the person I believe in; the person who can turn our country around.
And I'm struck at how far we've come. I read an exhilarating blog about the huge rally in KC. I'm sure it was amazing. Now that I think about it, our family was really lucky to get to see Obama in such a small setting - a gym filled with about 3,000 people. We sat about 10 rows from the front. Wow. What an experience. That was back in January -- when Obama was still a long shot for the democratic nomination.

In February, we caucused with the kids in a snowstorm, waiting 90 minutes to vote in a huge line that snaked around several tight hallways. Back then, I watched the results and wondered -- could this really be happening? Could he really be pulling ahead?

And now. Here we are. One day to go. One day until the results come in. One day before we know the direction our country will be going.
One day.

I wrote a blog, back on January 18, 2007, the day Obama announced his candidacy. That was nearly two years ago, and everything, EVERYTHING, I wrote about that man I believe even more vehemently now. I promised then, that I would eat my words if Obama turned out to be another sleazy politician. Yes, he could still turn out to be one. No, I'm not hanging the entire future of the universe on this one man. But I still believe in him and I still believe in what we can accomplish together:

"I write today with the promise of a new hope, a new way, a new beginning for our country. Normally, I am a very realistic, if not cynical, person, when it comes to my perspective on the outside world. I don't trust very easily, I tend to see things with an air of negativity. War, politics, poverty, global warming, injustice, genocide -- they are realities of life ...

But today, I have to put my negativity aside, to just believe, trust and hope that a new beginning has begun... Its not just about the way the man talks (but he can provoke emotion with his words) its not just about the words he says (but damn, its nice to hear the words) its not just the way he handles himself or how he answers questions (Q: "did you inhale? A: "Wasn't that the point?") or the legislation he gets behind. He just has a new way of being, a new way of leading, a new charisma that our country has not seen in years. Maybe all those things are the quintessential politician. Maybe I am just naive. But I see in Barack Obama something new, something genuine, something worth getting excited for.

What Barack has, is a charisma that the country needs to get behind. Not everyone can be a leader. While it takes many, many people to make change in the country, many who are faceless, nameless, and small, it also takes a leader who has what it takes to rally the troops. Imagine the civil rights movement without Martin Luther King Jr. -- while it took many, many others to bring real change, MLK, was a name, a picture, a face that inspired hope, that brought emotion and truth. The country needed him. And once again I think the country needs a new face, a new leader, a new hope. "

I said I wouldn't gush. This was really meant to be a photo-driven blog. I guess its just hard for me to contain myself. If nothing, I know I won't be alone tomorrow night, watching the returns come in. (Actually, I'll be far from alone, I'll be in a crowded newsroom, yelling results across the room and taking frantic phone calls.) In a larger sense, though, I'll be together with a global community of people who want to see change. I'm praying for the outcome. And whether you want to pray, or go door-to-door, or help get someone to the polls tomorrow -- do whatever you gotta do to make this happen. VOTE. We don't get a second chance at this one.